Question

Calculate the current in a circuit if 500 C of charge passes through it in 10 minutes. *

(1 Point)
a) 0.83A
b) 0.083A
c) 8.3A
d) 83A

Answer 1

Choice a. Approximately
`0.83\; \rm A` on average.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric current through a wire is the rate at which electric charge flows through a cross-section of this wire.

Assume that electric charge of size
`Q` flowed through a wire cross-section over a period of time
`t`. The average current in that wire would be:

`\displaystyle I = (Q)/(t)`.

For this question:

• 
  `Q = 500\; \rm C`, whereas
• 
  `t = 10\; \rm \text{minutes}`.

Therefore, the average current in this circuit would be:

`\displaystyle I = (Q)/(t) = \frac{500\; \rm C}{10\; \text{minutes}} = 50\; \rm C /\text{minute}`.

However, the units in the choices are all in
`\rm A` (for Amperes.) One Ampere is equal to one
`\rm C / \text{second}`. It will take some unit conversations to change the unit of
`I = 50\; \rm C/ \text{minute}` (coulombs-per-minute) to coulombs-per-second.

`\begin{aligned}I &= 50\; \rm C/ \text{minute} \\ &= \frac{50\; \rm C}{1\; \rm \text{minute}} * \frac{1 \; \text{minute}}{60\; \rm \text{seconds}} \approx 0.83\; \rm C/ \text{second} = 0.83 \; \rm A\end{aligned}`.

Hence, the most accurate choice here would be choice a.